Purpose:
The purpose of this exposure control plan is to eliminate or minimize
employee occupational exposure to blood or other infectious body fluids.
Other potentially infectious body fluids include: semen, vaginal secretions,
cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid,
amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, and any body fluid visibly
contaminated with blood.
Responsibility:
Departmental supervisors shall be responsible for ensuring their employees
comply with the provisions of this plan. The Facilities Department is responsible for providing all necessary supplies such as
personal protective equipment, soap and bleach, etc. The cost of
the Hepatitis B vaccinations
shall be the responsibility of the college. The Facilities Department
shall be responsible for training department personnel in proper disposal
of biohazardous waste contained in biohazardous waste bags.
Engineering and Work Practice Controls:
Universal/Standard Precautions will be observed by all Facilities Department employees
in order to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious
materials. All blood or other potentially infectious materials will be
considered infectious regardless of the perceived status of the source
individual.

Engineering and work practice controls will be utilized to eliminate
or minimize exposure to all RCC employees.

Employees must wash their hands or other skin with soap and water,
or flush mucous membranes with water, as soon as possible following
an exposure incident (such as a splash of blood to the eyes or an
accidental needle stick).**

Employees must wash their hands immediately (or as soon as feasible)
after removal of gloves or other personal protective equipment.**

**Employees shall familiarize themselves with the nearest hand
washing facilities for the buildings in which they work.
Because most RCC buildings are public access, they will
have available hand washing facilities in public restrooms
and custodial / janitorial closets. (If hand washing facilities
are not available, the Facilities Department will provide
either an antiseptic cleanser in conjunction with clean
cloth/paper towels or antiseptic towelettes. If these alternatives
are used, then the hands are to be washed with soap and
water as soon as feasible.)

Facilities Department employees who encounter improperly disposed
needles shall notify the appropriate authorities at the location.
Needles shall be disposed in labeled sharps containers provided at
location. If sharps containers are not available at location, properly
trained staff will pick up and dispose of needles in appropriate,
labeled sharps container.

Needles should never be recapped.

Needles may be moved only by using a mechanical device or tool
(forceps, pliers, broom and dust pan).

Breaking or shearing of needles is prohibited.

No eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, or
handling contact lenses is allowed in a work area where there is a
reasonable likelihood of occupational exposure.

No food or drinks shall be kept in refrigerators, freezers, shelves,
cabinets, or on counter tops or bench tops where blood or other potentially
infectious materials are present.

Employees must perform all procedures involving blood or other potentially
infectious materials in such a manner as to minimize splashing, spraying,
splattering, and generation of droplets of these substances.

Housekeeping:
Decontamination will be accomplished by utilizing the following materials:

10% (minimum) solution of chlorine bleach

Lysol or other EPA-registered disinfectants

All contaminated work surfaces, tools, objects, etc. will be decontaminated
immediately or as soon as feasible after any spill of blood or other
potentially infectious materials. The bleach solution or disinfectant
must be left in contact with contaminated work surfaces, tools, objects,
or potentially infectious materials for at least 10 minutes before
cleaning.

Equipment which may become contaminated with blood or other potentially
infectious materials will be examined and decontaminated before servicing
or use.

Broken glassware will not be picked up directly with the hands.
Sweep or brush material into a dustpan.

Known or suspected contaminated sharps shall be discarded immediately
or as soon as feasible in containers that are closeable, puncture-resistant,
leak-proof on sides and bottom, and marked with an appropriate biohazard
label. If sharps container is not pre-labeled, biohazard labels are
available through the Facilities Department.

When containers of contaminated sharps are being moved from the
area of use or discovery, the containers shall be closed immediately
before removal or replacement to prevent spillage or protrusion of
contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping.

Reusable containers shall not be opened, emptied, or cleaned manually
or in any other manner that would expose employees to the risk of
percutaneous injury.

Other Regulated Waste:
Other regulated waste shall be placed in containers that are closeable,
constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during
handling, storage, transportation or shipping.

The waste must be labeled or color coded and closed
before removal to prevent spillage or protrusion or contents during
handling, storage, or transport.

Biohazard bags and labels are available through the Facilities Department
office.

Incineration of biohazardous waste shall be handled by a biological
waste destructor. This shall be coordinated through a private contractor.

Laundry Procedures:
Laundry contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious material
will be handled as little as possible. Such laundry will not be sorted
or rinsed in the area of use.

Personal Protective Equipment:
Where occupational exposure remains after institution of engineering and
work controls, personal protective equipment shall also be utilized.

The Physical Plant will provide gloves, face shields,
eye protection, and aprons at no cost to employees. The Physical Plant
will replace or repair personal protective equipment as necessary at
no cost to employees.

All personal protective equipment will be chosen based
on the anticipated exposure to blood or other potentially infectious
materials. The protective equipment will be considered appropriate only
if it does not permit blood or other potentially infectious materials
to pass through or reach the employee's clothing, skin, eyes, mouth,
or mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the duration
of time for which the protective equipment will be used.

Employees must:

Utilize protective equipment in occupational exposure situations.

Remove garments that become penetrated by blood or other potentially
infectious material immediately or as soon as feasible.

Replace all garments that are torn or punctured, or that lose their
ability to function as a barrier to bloodborne pathogens.

Remove all personal protective equipment before leaving the work
area.

Place all garments in the appropriate designated area or container
for storage, cleaning, decontamination, or disposal.

Hepatitis B Vaccine:
The Hepatitis B vaccination shall be made available after the employee
has received the training in occupational exposure and within 10 working
days of initial assignment. It shall be made available to all employees
who have potential occupational exposure unless the employee has previously
received the complete Hepatitis B vaccination series, antibody testing
has revealed that the employee is immune, or the vaccine is contraindicated
for medical reasons.

If the employee initially declines Hepatitis B vaccination
but at a later date decides to accept the vaccination, the vaccination
shall then be made available.

If a routine booster dose of Hepatitis B vaccine is
recommended by U.S. Public Health Service at a future date, such booster
doses shall be made available at no cost to the employee.

The Hepatitis B Vaccine shall be offered to all staff in the
following job categories:

Facilities

Child care

Physical education

Science

Allied health

Cafeteria

Automotive

Welding

Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up:
All exposure incidents shall be reported, investigated, and documented.
When the employee incurs an exposure incident, it shall be reported immediately
to their supervisor.

Following a report of an exposure incident, the exposed employee shall
be directed to the nearest medical facility capable of performing
a confidential medical evaluation and follow-up, including at least
the following elements:

Documentation of the route(s) of exposure.

A description of the circumstances under which the exposure occurred.

The identification and documentation of the source individual. (The
identification is not required if the employer can establish that
identification is impossible or prohibited by state or local law.)

The collection and testing of the source individual's blood for
HBV and HIV serological status.

Post-exposure treatment for the employee, when medically indicated
in accordance with the U.S. Public Health Service.

Counseling.

Evaluation of any reported illness.

The Healthcare professional evaluating an employee will be provided with
the following information:

A copy of this plan.

A copy of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen regulations (29 CFR 1910.1030)

Documentation of the route(s) of exposure.

A description of the circumstances under which the exposure occurred.

Results of the source individual's blood testing, if available.

All medical records applicable to treatment of the employee, including
vaccination status.

The employee will receive a copy of the evaluating healthcare
professional's written opinion within 15 days of the completion of the
evaluation.

The healthcare professional's written opinion for Hepatitis
B vaccination is limited to the following: (1) whether the employee
needs Hepatitis B vaccination; (2) whether the employee has
received such a vaccination. The healthcare professional's written
opinion for post-exposure evaluation and follow-up is limited
to the following information:

That the employee was informed of the results of the evaluation.

That the employee was informed about any medical conditions resulting
from exposure to blood or other infectious materials that require
further evaluation or treatment.

All other findings or diagnoses will remain confidential
and will not be in a written report.

All medical evaluations shall be made by or under the supervision of
a licensed physician or by or under the supervision of another licensed
healthcare professional. All laboratory tests must be conducted by an
accredited laboratory at no cost to the employee. All medical records
will be kept in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.20.

Training:
All high risk employees shall participate in a training program. Training
will occur before assignment to a task where occupational exposure may
take place and at least annually thereafter. Additional training will
be provided when changes such as modification of tasks or procedures affect
the employee's occupational exposure.

Any employee who is exposed to infectious materials
shall receive training, even if the employee was allowed to receive
the HBV vaccine after exposure.

The training program will include at least the following elements:

An accessible copy of the regulatory text of 29 CFR 1910.1030 and
an explanation of its contents.

A general explanation of the epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne
diseases.

An explanation of the modes of transmission of bloodborne pathogens.

An explanation of the employer's exposure control plan and the means
by which the employee can obtain a copy of the written plan.

An explanation of the appropriate methods for recognizing tasks
and other activities that may involve exposure to blood or other potentially
infectious materials.

An explanation of the use and limitations of methods that will prevent
or reduce exposure, including appropriate engineering controls, work
practices, and personal protective equipment.